Question 1

All of the following have been identified as goals of theory EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The primary goals of theory include explanation, understanding, and often social change, but not reviewing. Reviewing is more associated with the process of evaluating or analyzing existing knowledge rather than a goal of theory itself.

Question 2

The scientific method follows

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

Theory is defined as a _________ system of _________ with indications of the _________ among the concepts that help us to understand a phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

Theory is defined as an abstract system of concepts with indications of the relationships among the concepts that help us to understand a phenomenon.

Question 4

In the __________ approach, communication behavior is believed to be governed by forces that are predictable and able to be generalized.

Accepted Answer

The covering law approach posits that communication behaviors follow predictable, generalizable patterns or laws, much like phenomena in the natural sciences. This perspective assumes that by understanding these laws, one can predict communication behaviors in various contexts.

Question 5

When a theory's explanations make sense and do not appear to contradict each other, the theory is said to have

Accepted Answer

Logical consistency refers to the coherence and internal logic of a theory, where its explanations and propositions do not contradict each other.

Question 6

Rules theorists view our behavior as being restricted by all of the following conditions EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rules theorists view our behavior as being...

Question 7

At Westco Company, a mission statement is presented to all new employees promoting the philosophy that all departments depend on quality performance from one another for the success of the company as a unit. When one unit fails, others will suffer. Which of the following systems approach elements is being promoted in this mission statement?

Accepted Answer

The mission statement emphasizes the concept of interdependence, highlighting how each department's performance affects the others, illustrating the systems approach element of interdependence where different parts of an organization rely on each other for overall success.

Question 8

The _________ epistemology rejects the notion that truth exists apart from the knower of the truth. Truth can only be understood from the viewpoint of individual experiences.

Accepted Answer

The interpretivist epistemology posits that truth and knowledge are subjective and can only be understood from the viewpoint of individual experiences, rejecting the idea that truth exists independently of the knower.

Question 9

The McAllister family has a rule that there will be no viewing of television after eight o'clock on school nights. Which of Lull's rules governing television viewing is represented by this rule?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The McAllister family has a rule that...

Question 10

_________ addresses questions about the role of values in the research process.

Accepted Answer

Axiology is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of values and value judgments, including ethics and aesthetics. It addresses questions about the role of values in various contexts, including the research process, by examining what is considered valuable or worthy of study and how these values influence the conduct and interpretation of research.

Question 11

The criterion of parsimony is most accurately described in which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

Parsimony, often applied in scientific theories and models, emphasizes simplicity in explaining phenomena, but insists on not omitting any necessary details that ensure the theory is complete and accurate. This principle is known as Occam's Razor, suggesting that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.

Question 12

__________ focuses on questions of the nature of reality and what we should be studying.

Accepted Answer

Ontology is the branch of philosophy that studies concepts such as existence, being, becoming, and reality. It deals with questions concerning what entities exist or can be said to exist, and how such entities can be grouped, related within a hierarchy, and subdivided according to similarities and differences.

Question 13

Of the approaches discussed in the book, the _________ approach assumes that individuals have the highest degree of free will.

Accepted Answer

The rules approach assumes that individuals have the highest degree of free will, as it focuses on the idea that people actively choose behaviors based on a set of internalized rules, rather than being driven by external forces or deterministic systems.

Question 14

When scientists have disagreements about how we go about knowing and what counts as knowledge, there is a disagreement about

Accepted Answer

Disagreements about how we go about knowing and what counts as knowledge relate to epistemology, which is the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge.

Question 15

In ____________ research, the focus is on generating knowledge and theory for its own sake.

Accepted Answer

Pure research, also known as basic or fundamental research, is conducted to increase understanding and generate knowledge and theory without a specific practical application in mind.

Question 16

Converting raw data into a category system, such as when a researcher analyzes newspaper coverage of an event by quantifying and classifying the various topics covered in the articles into categories, is called

Accepted Answer

Coding is the process of organizing and categorizing data, especially qualitative data, into themes or categories to facilitate analysis. In the context given, coding involves analyzing newspaper coverage by classifying the content into different categories or themes.

Question 17

A researcher who has no concern for issues of control or ability to generalize, instead choosing focus on providing rich descriptions would be following the _________ approach.

Accepted Answer

The interpretive approach in research focuses on understanding phenomena through the meanings that people assign to them, rather than prioritizing control or generalizability. This approach often involves providing rich, detailed descriptions of social contexts and interactions.

Question 18

Researchers are concerned with the extent to which they are actually measuring the true variable of interest, such as whether the standard I.Q. test is really capturing an individual's intelligence. This concern is about

Accepted Answer

This concern is about validity, specifically the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure. In this case, whether an I.Q. test accurately assesses an individual's intelligence.

Question 19

Reliability is the opposite of validity.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, while validity refers to the accuracy of a measure. They are different concepts, not opposites.

Question 20

Homeostatic systems are ones that stay the same over time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Homeostatic systems are ones that stay the...

Quiz 3: Thinking About Theory and Research